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The Mark of a Thief: SmartWater Technology

by Michael T. Coates

One of the more difficult tasks conducted by law enforcement is theft recovery and burglar identification. Traditional policing methods involve time-consuming investigations that rarely result in recovery of a missing item or identification and arrest of perpetrators. If a burglary is not reported immediately after the crime has occurred, the likelihood of successful outcome is doubtful. Law enforcement generally must rely on eyewitness accounts and trace evidence, such as fingerprints, hairs, and fibers to link a criminal to a crime scene. Many times, these resources are unavailable for various reasons and the investigation is compromised. In the past, alarm and camera systems have been used as a deterrent to theft and burglary. Although this technology has proved useful, criminals are aware of its presence and modify their behavior or appearance to avoid detection. As criminals are becoming smarter and increasingly finding ways around the current anti-theft technology, law enforcement and the public are finding new ways to thwart the ill intentions of criminals. Chemistry is providing a new asset to law enforcement in the form of a luminescent liquid solution.

In response to problems with current technology in property protection, a new tool called SmartWater has been developed. Centering on forensic coding systems and property marking, SmartWater uses a liquid solution that has two purposes: 1) identifies items with a unique coding system, and 2) sprays potential thieves with a unique substance that allows authorities to identify suspects when subjected to UV (ultra violet) light. The security system allows police and other officials to correctly connect stolen property with the original owner and effectively identify suspects that have been sprayed with the UV-luminescent material.

The original SmartWater system is quite simple and extremely effective. Every bottle of SmartWater is produced with a unique forensic code separate from all other bottles that is applied to certain property, such as household items or vehicles. The liquid is nearly invisible to the naked eye and virtually impossible to remove. In the event of a burglary or theft and the subsequent recovery of suspected stolen property, the police can effectively identify property with the assistance of a UV light.

Property Marking

There are several levels of products in the SmartWater line for private and commercial use. The SmartWater tracer system is designed to track and protect consumer products and small items by painting the liquid product onto the base of items. After the liquid dries, it leaves a unique identifier visible to the police using special tools in an event of theft. It is incredibly difficult to remove the substance from items, and the solution on the base is not visible to the naked eye. In the event of a successful theft, even if the criminal knows that the item has been treated with SmartWater, they will not be able to remove the identifying substance. During an official investigation into a theft, if a product is found in a suspect’s possession that has the unique identifier, probable cause can be warranted and an arrest may be made.

SmartWater Instant has additional unique identifiers in the solution and is developed for use on larger items, such as vehicles and outdoor equipment. The liquid substance is applied with a brush and contains micro particles that are numbered in a unique sequence and pattern. These identifiers are incredibly small, approximately the size of a grain of salt, and can be read using a 30X microscope.

The SmartWater SuperLabel utilizes the same technology as the other products although it is easier and more user-friendly to utilize. The SmartWater SuperLabel is a tamper-proof sticker with a unique and individual forensic code built into the label’s sticky adhesive. Even if a thief successfully removes a SuperLabel, the forensic code is still effective in the smallest speck of glue left by the sticker. A name or even a company logo can be incorporated into the sticker which can provide an additional level of identification. Once again, as for all these products, a UV light is all that is needed for law enforcement personnel to find the owner of a stolen item.

Commercial Use

SmartWater technology also provides theft and piracy protection for commercial use, and the substance can be added during the production of goods. The solution has minimal to no effect on the product itself, and it increases the ability of a company to identify its products. This is a valuable tool in the fight against counterfeiting and the market of pirated goods. SmartWater gives consumers, as well as corporations, peace of mind that their products are genuine, and this proof may help in lawsuits involving faulty products and the underground market of pirated or counterfeit items. The security material may also be valuable in times of product recalls with the unique coding system allowing consumers to identify potentially affected products.

In mechanical systems SmartWater can be used on nuts, bolts, and other equipment required for assembly. If a mechanical unit is suspected of being disassembled or repaired, checking for the items marked by SmartWater permits investigators to know the mechanical history or if there has been tampering of vital equipment. Several well-known international corporations have already begun utilizing SmartWater systems in their products and equipment, such as Honda, which has incorporated SmartWater in their motorcycles since 2000.

Anti-Burglary Systems

Perhaps the most interesting product of SmartWater is the Anti-Intruder/Robbery System. This product consists of a low-pressure spray unit set up at strategic points in a home or business. The spray system is activated when an attempted break-in is detected or a panic button is triggered. The SmartWater chemical is sprayed on whatever (or whomever) is in the target area. The harmless solution cannot be seen by the naked eye but is fluorescently visible under UV light; the substance will remain on human skin and hair for several weeks, and stays on clothing indefinitely. Laundry detergents and other cleaning solutions are ineffective at removal of this product, and time is the only hope of removal from skin. This system can be compared with explosive dye packs contained in bank monies that help identify bank robbers. The trace evidence of SmartWater substance on the body and clothes remains intact for an extended period of time while other trace evidence, such as paint, glass, and fingerprints would not remain either at the crime scene or on the suspect for a long period of time. This enables law enforcement officials to effectively conduct investigations and apprehend suspects without the traditional limitation of time and evidence preservation.

Field Use

So far, SmartWater technology has been confined to the United Kingdom, with approximately 95% of police trained in and utilizing this technology. Authorities in the United Kingdom have seen impressive results with a decline in burglaries and more effective investigations. In fact, the Greater Manchester Police (Oldham, England) reported a 62% reduction in burglaries over a twelve month period, and the West Midlands Police also experienced similar results with a 33% decline in burglaries. Repeat victimization has also witnessed the effects of SmartWater technology, with Nottingham Police reporting a 95% reduction in repeat victimization. The most startling figure is the 100% conviction rate when SmartWater was detected on a suspect or on the stolen property. Even areas of theft not traditionally examined, such as the burglary of vending machines, have employed this anti-theft system and seen results.

The success of SmartWater technology in the United Kingdom has shown the various applications that can be used in law enforcement, consumer needs, and commercial ventures. This anti-theft system provides both proactive and reactive solutions for law enforcement as a substitute for the traditional methods of investigation, recovery, and conviction that have proved time consuming and sometimes ineffective. As of now, SmartWater technology is only available in the United Kingdom, but planning is underway to make it available to other countries. With proven success rates, it is almost certain that this technology will be incorporated by law enforcement around the world.

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